Singing Christmas Tree

When your 20 yo son asks if you can all go to the Singing Christmas Tree this year, you do everything you can to fit it into the schedule.  And that's just what I set out to accomplish.

It was a bit challenging to find a time when the performance was scheduled, that would also work into our schedule.  But I found one.  (Blessing #1075) 

However, first things first. 

After church last Sunday, we headed to Minden for Christmas with my mom's side of the family.  (#1076)  As they looked at their growing family standing in a big circle, my grandpa and grandma had tears in their eyes. 

Grandpa Don and Grandma Bernie

They have friends whose family members don't get together any more, and the thought of that happening to our family makes them sad.  But at the same time, they recognize it as a special blessing each time we all spend time together as a big group.  (#1077)  It's truly something to treasure.

Grandma has a rule . . . if you're still in high school, you have to be in the "kids" picture by the tree. 

Grandkids and Great-Grandkids

After we left Minden, we headed to GI for the 6:30 performance of the Singing Christmas Tree.  (#1078)   This is thier 39th year, and next year they're planning something extra special.  

It's always an amazing, heart-touching performance, and it really gets your mind and heart set for Christmas.  (#1079) The singers are in the tree behind the actors and the lights are constantly changing with the music. 

The performance tells the wonderful story of Jesus' birth.  I love the part where the wise men show up!  Their costumes, all the actors big and small (there must have been close to a hundred total), and the animals all make you feel as if you're right there watching it all unfold.  They use real animals - sheep, goats, horses, and even a camel and a zebra.  But it doesn't stop there.  It also tells the story as Jesus grows up, performs miracles, is arrested, and goes to the cross.  One of our dear friends from college, who also happened to be Chad's roommate one year, plays Jesus. 

  

Like always, it was awesome!  And it was just as special traveling to and from GI as a family, listening to Chad and the kids chattering all the way there and back . . . until Jillian fell asleep on the way home.  It was way past her bedtime when we got home.  But it was so worth it.  (#1080)